MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
King’s played better against Nooksack Valley in the 1A bi-district championship game Feb. 24 than it did in a loss in the district final but the result was the same.
The Pioneers start a bigger lineup across the board than King’s and outrebounded the Knights in a 58-52 victory.
Nooksack used its two big men, Chris Mitchell and Jeb Hobbs, to score inside and crash the offensive boards while guard Bret Handy lit it up from the perimeter. Handy scored a game-high 18 points while Mitchell added 17.
Both teams qualified for state, Nooksack as the No. 1 seed from the bi-district and King’s as the No. 2 seed. King’s faced Tenino Feb. 28 in the opening round, in a game played after Enterprise deadlines.
King’s drew the tougher half of the bracket. Brewster or Bellevue Christian, who are among the tourney favorites along with King’s and Nooksack, are possible opponents if the Knights reach the semifinals. Bellevue Christian, the two-time defending champions, handed King’s its only regular season loss. Nooksack is in the upper half of the bracket and appear to have an easier road.
“We’re really confident right now,” said Handy, noting how the quality 2A and 3A opponents the Pioneers played in the Northwest Conference prepared them for the postseason. “Definitely playing the best ball at the best time.”
King’s, meanwhile, is without starting center Charlie Enquist, whose right wrist is in a cast after he was injured against Vashon Island in the bi-district tournament.
“I was really antsy out there,” Enquist said of having to watch the Knights loss to the Pioneers. “I wanted to jump off the bench and get a rebound.”
King’s head coach Marv Morris said the Knights plan to run the same offense without Enquist.
“It’s not going to change much at all,” he said.
In the bi-district final, Nooksack took an early lead and held a 28-22 advantage at the half.
King’s rallied in the third quarter and went on a 9-0 run to take a four-point lead. Guard Cameron George hit a 3-pointer and center Dylan O’Neil, filling in for Enquist, scored back-to-back baskets to boost the run.
The Pioneers tied it at the end of the quarter and then exploded in the fourth, going on a 12-2 run to take control of the game.
The Knights were late coming out of the third quarter break and the official gave the Pioneers the ball before the Knights came on the floor. Mitchell got an easy layup and was fouled, which proved to be a huge momentum shift in Nooksack’s favor.
Earlier in the game, the officials gave the Pioneers the ball before the Knights were all out on the floor after a timeout, and a warning may have been issued then, but Morris said he wasn’t aware of it.
“I’ve never had an official do what they did,” Morris said.
Morris put in his bench with 2:22 left and the players managed to cut the lead to four a minute later, but could get no closer.
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